How to use Evorel Sequi patches

For women who are going through the menopause, the range of symptoms, such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and night sweat, can feel overwhelming to cope with. The ‘20s have seen open dialogue about menopause and its impact on the lives of women and those around them, which has prompted increasing numbers of women to stop suffering in silence and seek professional help to enable them to get their symptoms under control. 

Evorel Patches are a popular treatment choice which not only helps to alleviate the often life-impacting symptoms of menopause experienced by some women but can help to reduce the long-term health implications for all women post-menopause, such as osteoporosis. 

Many women put off seeking professional advice about menopause and HRT, but it is usually safe for women to start taking hormone replacement treatment as soon as they start experiencing the symptoms of menopause, without needing to take additional tests. However, when taking HRT, it is essential that the medication is taken correctly. 

Finding the right type and dosage of HRT can require some trial and error, but before you stop using Evorel Sequi patches and try something different, it is important that you make sure that you know how to use them properly and give them enough time to work. This article is intended to provide you with everything you need to know about Evorel Sequi patches including:

• What is Evorel Sequi?
• How long does it take for HRT patches to work?
• Does Evorel Sequi actually work?
• What is the difference between Evorel Conti and Evorel Sequi?
• How to stop HRT patches falling off? 
• Why do HRT patches have to be below the waist? 
• How long after starting HRT do you feel a difference? 
• How do I know if I need a higher dose of HRT? 
• Evorel Sequi alternatives

What is Evorel Sequi?

Evorel Sequi is one of the more common types of HRT. It comes in patch form, which means that the dosage is slowly released into the bloodstream via the skin. Evorel Sequi contains two hormones: oestrogen and progesterone, both of which naturally decrease during menopause, and which can cause the symptoms that many menopausal women experience. 

A woman’s hormone levels naturally alter during her reproductive cycle. Evorel Sequi patches mimic this cycle. Known as a cyclical hormone replacement therapy, or sequential HRT, Evorel Sequi is made up of two separate patches: 

• Evorel 50 patches, which have a CE50 stamp contain only oestrogen (in the form of oestradiol), 
• Evorel Conti patches, which are marked CEN1, contain both oestradiol and norethisterone (synthetic progesterone).

Evorel 50 patches are used for the first two weeks of the four-week cycle, followed by Evorel Conti patches for the second two weeks.
Using two different patches may seem over-complicated, but this process closely mimics your natural hormone cycle and is, therefore, effective at reducing the symptoms of menopause.  

How long do HRT patches take to work? 

For many women experiencing perimenopause or menopause, it can take a little while before they consult medical advice about their symptoms. By this point, women are often struggling to cope with the physical and emotional symptoms; they are often desperate for instant results. 

Finding the right type and dosage of HRT can involve an element of trial and error; some people will find the right solution straight away, while for others it can take a little longer. When considering how long does Evorel Sequi take to work, like all medication, it will vary from person to person. 

In general, however, it will take a few weeks to start seeing some improvement, with optimal results in around two to three months. If, after four to six months, there is no significant improvement, your doctor may recommend that you try a different type of HRT. 

Does Evorel Sequi actually work?

There is no magic treatment for menopause. Just as some women can go through the menopause with no symptoms at all, and others experience debilitating symptoms, for some women Evorel Sequi is life-changing, and for others it isn’t as effective as it needs to be. 

Evorel Sequi is, however, one of the most common and successful HRT treatments and it is proven to alleviate a range of symptoms associated with menopause, including physical symptoms such as insomnia, hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and osteoporosis, and psychological symptoms including brain fog, mood swings and depression. 

What is the difference between Evorel Conti and Evorel Sequi?

Evorel Conti patches contain oestrogen and progesterone and can be taken continuously by women who have gone through the menopause i.e., they haven’t had a period for more than 12 months, or who are over 54. Evorel Sequi contains two patches: one which contains just oestrogen, and one that contains oestrogen and progesterone. 

How to stop HRT patches falling off?

To minimise the possibility of your patches falling off, it is important that you follow the application instructions carefully and choose the best location for your HRT patch. 

Make sure that the skin that you apply the patch to is clean and dry. If you moisturise daily, try to avoid the area that you will stick the patch on as this can stop it from sticking properly. Holding the patch in place with the palm of your hand can help it to stay on for longer. Some women who really struggle to keep their patches on use breathable dressing to help it to stay in place. Finding the best place to put Evorel patches can help; most women chose to stick the patch to their thigh or bottom, but choosing an area that is less likely to rub on clothing, or which could be held in place by underwear, may help. 

If your patch does fall off, replace it as soon as you can, but continue with your cycle, so change it on the same day that you would have if the patch had remained in place. 

Why do HRT patches have to be below the waist? 

HRT can cause an increase in breast cancer risk in women, particularly those who have a history of cancer in their families. It is, therefore, important that HRT gels and patches are kept away from breast tissue. 

Another reason why HRT should be applied below the waist is because the hormones are absorbed better by fatty tissue, such as the lower abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. The best location for HRT patches will vary, but it is important that you don’t use the same area twice in a row.

If you change your patches on a Monday and Thursday, for example, it is a good idea to apply to your left side on Monday and your right on Thursday (or vice versa) to make sure you don’t use the same spot twice.  

How long after starting HRT do you feel a difference?

Although it can take up to three months to see a significant impact from your HRT, there are some signs that HRT is working, which could be apparent in a matter of weeks. 

As soon as you start taking HRT, the relatively slow process of rebalancing your hormones will begin. You may experience mild nausea, breast pain, or headaches. You may also experience an increase in your sex drive. It will, however, take two or more months for the full effects of your HRT to be felt. 

How do I know if I need a higher dose of HRT?

Finding the right dose and type of HRT does require an element of trial and error. Medical practitioners will usually consider all the influencing factors before recommending a starting dose for you to try. 

If you have persevered with HRT for over three months and you experience vaginal bleeding or breast tenderness, it could be that the dosage is too high form you – one possibility is that you are still producing a little bit of oestrogen yourself. If you experience those symptoms, chat with your doctor and they may recommend a lower dose. 

You may also need a higher dosage HRT. If your HRT works to begin with and your symptoms return after a few months, it is likely that you need to up your dose. Speak to your doctor as soon as you notice a negative change in your physical or psychological symptoms. 

Evorel Sequi alternatives

There are a range of Evorel Sequel alternatives and if for some reason your prescriber doesn’t think that it is the right treatment for you, they will talk through the options with you. 

Evorel Sequi is a sequential or cyclical HRT which replicates the natural hormone cycle. Alternatives to this are oestrogen only HRT, and continuous, combined HRT.  Oestrogen only HRT contains only oestrogen and is recommended for women who do not have a womb (i.e., those who have had a hysterectomy) and who do not, therefore, need progesterone to prevent a thickening of the lining of the uterus. 

Continuous, combined HRT contains progesterone and oestrogen and is recommended for women who have gone through menopause, i.e., they have not had a period for more than a year. 

Alternatives to Evorel Sequi include Estradot Patches, Femseven Patches, Femseven Sequi Patches, Femseven Conti Patches, and Elleste Solo Patches. The patches can vary in size and dosage and, depending on your menopausal stage and the presence of allergies, your prescriber will try to prescribe the one that is most likely to suit you. 

HRT patch summary

• HRT patches are a convenient treatment for the symptoms of menopause.
• There are three types of HRT: sequential or cyclical HRT, oestrogen only HRT, and continuous, combined HRT.
• Patches should be applied below the waist and, in the case of Evorel Sequi, changed every third and fourth day on the same day of the week. 
• Although some effects of HRT can be seen within a few weeks, it can take 2-3 months for HRT to start working and it is recommended that you give it 4-6 months before trying a different treatment. 

If you are aged over 45 i.e., of normal menopausal age, it is often possible for HRT to be prescribed without a blood test. For younger women, a blood test may be advisable to ensure correct diagnosis.